Strawberry plant named &#39;PE-3.219&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘PE-3.219’. This new strawberry plant named ‘PE-3.219’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its medium to small, uniform fruit that is very glossy and firm, medium plant size that is dense with strong vigor, medium to dark green foliage, and medium to large foliage with medium to strong interveinal blistering.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Fragaria ananassa

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PE-3.219’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry varietynamed ‘PE-3.219’. This new variety is a result of a controlled crossmade in 2003 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry selectiondesignated ‘PS-2899’ (unpatented) and strawberry selection designated‘PS-5899’ (unpatented). Due to the combining of the reciprocal seedlots, it is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent andwhich parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanicallyknown as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from acontrolled breeding plot in Ventura County, California in the fall of2005. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated bystolons in both San Joaquin County, California and Siskiyou County,California. The new variety was extensively tested over the next severalyears in fruiting fields in Ventura County, California. This propagationhas demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein ascharacterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘PE-3.219’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions ofthe central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides theneeded humidity and moderate temperatures to produce a strong vigorousplant and maintain fruit quality during the fall production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘PE-3.219’, which in combinationdistinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

1. Medium to small, uniform fruit that is very glossy and firm;

2. Medium plant size that is dense with strong vigor;

3. Medium to dark green foliage; and

4. Medium to large foliage with medium to strong interveinal blistering.

The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related tothe new variety ‘PE-3.219’ is ‘VALOR’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,394). Inside-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘VALOR’,‘PE-3.219’ differs by the following combination of characteristics asdescribed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 COMPARISON WITH THE STANDARD VARIETY ‘VALOR’ Characteristic‘PE-3.219’ (US PP20,394) Fruit color -- Red. Ranges from medium to darkred. Fruit size -- Ranges from medium to small. Medium. Fruit gloss --Strong. Medium. Foliage length × width ratio -- Longer than broad. Aslong as broad. Foliage shape in cross section -- Slightly convex.Slightly concave to flat.

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determinedfor this new variety.

‘PE-3.219’ differs from its parents, ‘PS-2899’ and ‘PS-5899’, by thefollowing combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 COMPARISON WITH THE PARENT VARIETIES Characteristic ‘PE-3.219’‘PS-2899’ ‘PS-5899’ Fruit color-- Medium red. Medium red. Ranges frommedium to light red. Fruit size -- Ranges from Medium. Large. medium tosmall. Plant size -- Ranges from Medium. Medium. medium to large. Skinfirmness -- Good. Moderate to good. Moderate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance oftypical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘PE-3.219’, at variousstages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with colorreproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightlyfrom the color value cited in the botanical descriptions whichaccurately describe the color of ‘PE-3.219’. The depicted plant andplant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘PE-3.219’ are between threeand four months old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County,California:

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘PE-3.219’, takenin the month of November 2013;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of‘PE-3.219’, taken in the month of November 2013;

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘PE-3.219’,taken in the month of October 2013; and

FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristicsof ‘PE-3.219’, taken in the month of November 2013.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new variety ‘PE-3.219’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety‘PE-3.219’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations inenvironmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity andlight intensity), day length, soil type and location. In addition, thecharacteristics of any parental variety or comparison variety includedin Tables 1 and 2 of the present invention may vary in detail, dependingupon variations in environmental factors, including weather(temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type andlocation.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following descriptionof the new variety ‘PE-3.219’, unless otherwise noted, are based onobservations taken during the 2013 growing season in Ventura County,California. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of‘PE-3.219’ dug from a low-elevation nursery located in San JoaquinCounty, California during January 2013 and planted six months later inVentura County, California. The approximate age of the observed plantsis between three and four months. Yield observations including averageweight and marketable yield, along with fruit quality characteristicsincluding soluble solids, are averaged from four years of data collectedfrom the 2009 through 2012 growing seasons. Flower measurements andcharacteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruitcharacteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unlessotherwise noted.

Where noted, color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart, London (2007).

The following characteristics describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage,fruiting truss, flower, and pest and disease characteristics of the newstrawberry ‘PE-3.219’.

-   Fruit characteristics:    -   -   Color of mature fruit.—RHS 45A (red).        -   Color of internal flesh.—RHS 42A (light red).        -   Color of core.—RHS 42D (medium red).        -   Length (cm).—3.9.        -   Width (cm).—3.4.        -   Size.—Ranges from small to medium.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.15 (slightly longer than broad).        -   Calyx diameter (cm).—4.5.        -   Average weight (gm).—20.7.        -   Achene color, shaded side.—RHS 153D (green group).        -   Achene color, sun-exposed side.—RHS 183C (greyed purple            group).        -   Achene weight (mg).—0.60.        -   Achenes per berry.—353.        -   Marketable yield (gm/plant).—460.        -   Predominant shape.—Ranges from conical to cylindrical            (almost cylindrical).        -   Difference in shape between primary and secondary            fruit.—Ranges from slight to moderate.        -   Band without achenes.—Absent or very narrow.        -   Evenness of surface.—Even or very slightly uneven.        -   Evenness of color.—Even or very slightly uneven.        -   Glossiness.—Strong.        -   Insertion of achenes.—Level with surface.        -   Position of calyx attachment.—Inserted.        -   Attitude of sepals.—Outward.        -   Size of calyx in relation to fruit diameter.—Slightly            larger.        -   Adherence of calyx (when fully ripe).—Strong.        -   Firmness of flesh.—Ranges from medium to firm.        -   Distribution of red color of the flesh.—Marginal and            central.        -   Hollow center expression.—Weak.        -   Flavor.—Good.        -   Soluble solids (% Brix).—7.0.        -   Time of first flowering.—Medium.        -   Time of first harvesting.—Medium.        -   Harvest period.—Late September to mid December.        -   Harvest maturity.—Mid to late season.        -   Type of bearing.—Fully remontant (non-flowering runners).-   Plant characteristics:    -   -   Height (cm).—22.8.        -   Spread (cm).—38.3.        -   Size.—Medium.        -   Habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Density.—Dense.        -   Vigor.—Strong.-   Stolon characteristics:    -   -   Color.—RHS 146C (yellow green group).        -   Anthocyanin coloration.—RHS 180B (greyed red group).        -   Anthocyanin intensity.—Ranges from weak to medium.        -   Pubescence.—Medium.        -   Attitude of hairs.—Upward.        -   Average quantity (nursery).—Medium.        -   Average diameter at bract (mm).—4.0 (thick).-   Terminal leaflet characteristics:    -   -   Length (cm).—9.2.        -   Width (cm).—8.0.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.14 (longer than broad).        -   Shape of base.—Obtuse.        -   Shape of teeth.—Obtuse (serrate to crenate).        -   Serrations per leaf.—25.2.-   Foliage characteristics:    -   -   Color of upper surface.—RHS N137B (ranges from medium green            to dark green).        -   Color of underside.—RHS 147C (yellow green group).        -   Number of leaflets.—3.        -   Size.—Medium.        -   Shape in cross section.—Slightly convex.        -   Interveinal blistering.—Ranges from medium to strong.        -   Glossiness.—Medium.        -   Variegation.—Absent.-   Petiole characteristics:    -   -   Color.—RHS 144A (yellow green group).        -   Length (cm).—12.7.        -   Diameter (mm).—3.3.        -   Attitude of hairs.—Slightly outward.        -   Frequency of bract leaflets.—70% occurrence (mostly).        -   Bract leaflet size.—Medium.        -   Pubescence.—Sparse.        -   Petiolule color.—RHS 144A (yellow green group).        -   Petiolule length (mm).—12.8.-   Stipule characteristics:    -   -   Color.—RHS 146B (yellow green group).        -   Anthocyanin coloration.—RHS 59B (red purple group).        -   Anthocyanin intensity.—Medium.        -   Length (mm).—20.3.        -   Width (mm).—10.8.-   Fruiting truss characteristics:    -   -   Anthocyanin coloration.—RHS 179B (greyed red group).        -   Anthocyanin intensity.—Absent or very weak.        -   Length at maturity (cm).—23.3 (medium).        -   Position relative to foliage.—Ranges from beneath to level            with.        -   Number of flowers.—Medium.        -   Pedicel attitude of hairs.—Upward.        -   Pubescence.—Medium.        -   Attitude at first pick.—Prostrate.-   Flower characteristics:    -   -   Petal color.—RHS NN 155C (white group).        -   Sepal color.—RHS 137A (green group).        -   Receptacle color.—RHS 148B (yellow green group).        -   Anther color.—RHS 13A (yellow group).        -   Corolla diameter (mm).—30.5 (medium).        -   Calyx diameter (mm).—32.3.        -   Petal length (mm).—12.3.        -   Petal width (mm).—12.1.        -   Petal length/width ratio.—1.01 (as long as broad).        -   Petals/flower.—5.8.        -   Sepal length (mm).—12.4.        -   Sepal width (mm).—5.0.        -   Sepal length/width ratio.—2.48.        -   Sepals/flower.—11.7.        -   Size of calyx relative to corolla.—Larger.        -   Size of inner calyx relative to outer calyx.—Smaller.        -   Relative position of petals (flowers with 5-6            petals).—Overlapping.        -   Stamen.—Present.-   Pest and disease reactions:    -   -   Powdery mildew.—Moderately susceptible.        -   Angular leaf spot.—Moderate.        -   Botrytis fruit rot.—Moderately susceptible.        -   Two-spotted spider mite.—Moderately susceptible.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘PE-3.219’, asherein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above.